A recent study suggests that patients who stop using new slimming jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro tend to recover shed pounds much more quickly than those who halt traditional diet and exercise plans.
Research printed in a leading medical journal demonstrates that while obese people often shed about a fifth of their body weight while using the jabs, the weight is regained at an average rate of nearly a kilo each month once they quit.
"Users using such treatments need to be informed of the danger of quick weight regain when the treatment ends," cautioned researcher Dr. Susan Jebb.
That rate of recovery implies a return to original mass in about a year and a half.
Analyzing Therapies
The study, which reviewed dozens of trials involving over 9,000 of patients, contrasted the results of these new drugs with older methods.
Researchers note that people who lose weight through diet and exercise usually experience a more gradual creep back—perhaps 0.1 kg a month—post-intervention.
Explaining the Quick Rebound
Doctors propose the mechanism of the injections explains the amplified rebound.
The injections copy a body's own chemical called glucagon-like peptide-1, which controls feelings of fullness.
"Long-term administration of the hormone concentrations several times higher than normal may cause the body to generate a reduced amount of its own natural GLP-1, and may also diminish responsiveness to its actions," said Dr. Adam Collins, a dietetics researcher.
"Discontinuation of this hormone supplement means appetite is uncontrolled, making excessive eating much more probable."
A Lifelong Issue?
Medical guidelines recommend the jabs for people with weight-linked health risks, accompanied by prescribed diet and exercise modifications.
A number of clinicians say that, due to the significant potential of relapse, the treatment is often life-long.
This opinion is reinforced by pharmaceutical companies, who say that the results "emphasize the persistent character of excess weight," similar to managing diseases like hypertension.
Patient Testimonies
People who have stopped the jabs report a powerful resurgence of appetite.
"It was like a trigger flipping and you're instantly starving," described a patient.
This challenge is exacerbated if individuals have not developed lasting lifestyle or habit changes during treatment.
Significant Use
Recent estimates show that millions of people in the UK have tried weight-loss jabs in the last 12 months, with demand remaining high.
- Use is greater among females than males.
- The 40s and 50s age group shows the greatest usage rates.
- A large proportion obtain the medications through private healthcare rather than public health services.
Finally, researchers caution that while GLP-1 drugs are potent tools for weight loss, they are not a magic fix and lasting health benefits relies on integrated lifestyle changes.
